Chemotherapeutic effect of baicalein/epirubicin combination against liver cell carcinoma in-vitro: Inducing apoptosis and autophagy

• Published in: Toxicology in vitro 2024-03, Vol.95, p.105744-105744, Article 105744
• Main Authors: Al-Ashmawy, Ghada Mohammad, El-Sherbeni, Suzy Abd El-Hakeem, Ali, Dina Adam, Abo-Saif, Mariam Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Epirubicin; Flavanones; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0887-2333; 1879-3177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105744

Flavonoids have a pivotal cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current study aimed to investigate which flavonoid isolated from Physalis pubescens L. leaves has the most cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 liver cancer cells and if it could ameliorate epirubicin efficacy and safety. Baicalein trimethyl ether (BTME), rutin, quercitrin and myricitrin were isolated from Physalis Pubescens L. leaves. Hep-G2 cells were treated with the isolated flavonoids as well as a combination of BTME and epirubicin. Cell viability and the chromosomal DNA fragmentation in Hep-G2 cells were assessed. BTME showed the best cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 cells. Combination of epirubicin with (200 μg/mL) BTME significantly decreased the IC of epirubicin from 2.79 ± 0.626 μg/mL to 0.76 ± 0.258 μg/mL. Moreover, the same combination significantly increased the IC of BTME against WI-38 normal cells. DNA fragmentation as well as the concentration of beclin 1 and Bax were significantly increased in Hep-G2 cells treated with BTME and BTME+epirubicin compared to untreated cells. Besides, BTME and BTME+epirubicin significantly decreased the gene expression of TGFβ1 whereas increased ATG-7 gene expression. Conclusions: BTME (200μg/mL) significantly enhanced epirubicin's cytotoxicity against Hep-G2 cells and ameliorated its safety profile. BTME could exert anti-hepatocarcinoma effect by enhancing apoptosis and autophagy.